Agitating and spinning mechanism



Aug. 14, 1956 Filed April 8. .1952

Fig

K. o. SISSON 2,758,685

AGITATING AND SPINNING MECHANISM 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Kenneth O. Si sson 4, 1956 K. o. SISSON 2,758,685

AGITATINGAND SPINNING MECHANISM Filed April 8. 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. Kenneth O. S/sson 14, 1956 K. o. SISSON 2,758,685

AGITATING AND SPINNING MECHANISM 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 8. 1952Aug. 14, 1956 K. o. SISSON AGITATING AND SPINNING MECHANISM 6Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 8, 1952 Flg' 5i INVENTOR.

Bgenpefh O. Sisson 4, 1956 K. o. SISSON 2,758,685

AGITATING AND SPINNING MECHANISM 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 8. 1952INVENTOR.

i Kenne fh 0. Slss0n United States Patent AGITATING AND SPINNINGlVIE'CHANlSM Kenneth 0. Sisson, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General MotorsCorporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application April8, 1952, Serial No. 281,062

13 Claims. (Cl. 192-35) This invention relates to an agitating andspinning mechanism and more particularly to automatic wasing machines ofthe type having an oscillatable agitator within the tub and a rotatingtub to dry the clothes.

At the present time, automatic washing machines es- A pecially thosewhich have an oscillatable agitator in the tub and dry by spinning thetub, cost much more to manufacture and sell than the best Wringerwashers. In such automatic washers the agitating mechanism involves anumber of large, expensive and complicated parts. Some of thesecomplications ensue from the system of agitating with a long stroke at amuch lower speed than the spinning operation.

It is an object of my invention to provide a more simple, inexpensive,efiicient agitating and spinning mechanism for an automatic washingmachine having a reciprocable agitator in the tub which is spun to drythe clothes.

It is another object of my invention to provide an automatic machine inwhich the number of strokes per minute the agitator is reciprocated inthe tub during the operating period equals the revolutions per minutethat the tub is spun for drying.

It is another object of my invention to provide an automatic washingmachine in which the agitation mechanism housing is rotated to provideboth agitating and spinning operations.

It is another object of my invention to provide an improved suspensionsystem for the tub and agitating mechanism which is more simple,inexpensive and which reduces the transmission of vibrations to thefloor.

These objects are obtained by providing a washing machine in which thecatch basin surrounds the tub. The housing which supports the tub andagitator is resiliently mounted upon a conical rubber member supportedby the catch basin and assisted by coil springs extending diagonallydownward from the catch basin to points of connection on the housing.The tub is rotatably mounted upon the housing. At the bottom of thehousing the tub is connected by alternate overrunning clutch mechanismeither with a normally stationary friction de vice connected to thehousing or to a second housing which is rotatably mounted on the firsthousing and which is provided with a surrounding pulley groove receivinga belt from the drive pulley of an electric motor mounted upon one sideof the first housing. The bottom of the agitator shaft is connected byan angularly mounted bearing to a pivoted member connected to therotatable second housing.

The drive motor operates in one direction to rotate the second housingin one direction while the tub is kept stationary through the winding upand gripping of a wound spring clutch extending between a memberconnected to the tub and the friction device connected to the firsthousing. When the drive motor is reversed, this wound spring clutch isreleased and a second wound spring clutch is wound to provide aconnection between the rotatable second housing and the shaftsconnecting with the tub.

2,758,685 Patented Aug. 14, 1956 Further objects and advantages of thepresent invention will be apparent from the following description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferredform of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through an auto matic washingmachine embodying one form of my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view through the rotatable housingshown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a further enlarged view of the mechanism within therotatable housing shown in Figure 2 with the wound spring clutch membersshown in position for the agitating operation;

Figure 4 is a view of the wound spring clutch mechanism shown in Figure3, but with the wound spring clutch members shown in the positions theyassume during the spinning operation;

Figure 5 is a view of the wound spring clutch mechanism with the woundspring clutch members shown in the positions they assume during thebraking period in which the drive motor is stopped following thespinning operation;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 ofFigure 1;

Figure 7 is a sectional view analogous to Figure 6 showing a modifiedform of resilient suspension;

Figure 8 is a sectional view analogous to Figure 2 showing a modifiedform of rotatable housing; and

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 99 of Figure 8.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figure 1, thereis shown an outer cabinet shell 20 provided with a lid 22. This outercabinet shell 20 is supported upon a base 24- provided with adjustablefeet 26. Within the cabinet shell 20 there is provided a catch basinhaving a vertical tubular portion 28. The vertical tubular portion 28connects to a bottom portion 30 having a raised center provided with anopening. This bottom portion 36 is supported by a support means 32extending downward and supported by the portion of the outer shell 20which rests upon the base 24. In this way the catch basin is entirelysupported by the base and the outer shell may be coated with porcelain,if desired, before the catch basin is assembled therein.

Extending over the opening in the raised center of the bottom 30 of thecatch basin is a conical rubber member 34 the upper end of whichsupports a supporting flange 36 provided upon the supporting tubularhousing 38. Rotatably mounted within this supporting tubular housing 38upon the lower bearing 40 and by a suitable prelubricated upper bearing,is a tubular shaft 42, the upper end of which connects to a hub member44 to which the tub 4 6 is connected and sealed. The tub 46 is providedwith a series of apertures 48 adjacent its upper periphery and an upperrim 50, of reduced diameter, which prevents the loss of the clothesduring the spinning operation. To reduce the vibrations of the mechanismduring the spinning of the tub, there is provided a hollow flywheelmember 52 mounted upon the top of the tub surrounding its opening whichis filled with particles of heavy material such as iron or lead.

Within the tub there is provided a flared agitator 54 on top of which isprovided a pilot 56 extending above the water level to prevent theclothes from being caught when the agitator 54 operates up and downthrough a stroke of about inch with a minimum clearance of about 1%inches between the bottom of its flared skirt and the bottom of the tub.A long screw 58 extends from the top of the pilot 56 to a cap nut 60threaded to the top of the hollow agitator shaft 62. This cap nut 60clamps the central portion of the flared agitator member and the outerflexible rubber bellows seal 64 and the inner flexible rubber bellowsseal 66 to a washer provided at the top of the agitator shaft 62. Thelower end of the outer bellows seal is connected to an inner neckportion 68 of the tub 46 while the lower end of the inner bellows sealis secured to the upper portion of the tubular tub shaft 42. These innerand outer seals 64 and 66 prevent leakage of any fluid in the tub intothe mechanism or into the catch basin.

The lower portion of the tubular shaft is provided with a key 70 fittinginto a slot 72 in the inner shaft 62 connecting with the agitator toprovide a slidable connection between these shafts. The key 71} alsoprovides a connection with the clutch member 74 mounted upon the outsideof the shaft 42. This clutch member 74 is locked on its upper side by aring 76 fitting in a notch provided in the outer surface of the shaftand edged within a recess in the member '74. The bottom of the clutchmember 74 rests against a second clutch member 78 surrounding the shaft42 in engagement with a spacing sleeve 80 which rests upon the innerrace 82 of a ball bearing 84. This assembly of the members 74, 78, 8t)and 82 is locked in place against the ring 76 by the nut 86 which isthreaded upon the bottom of the shaft 42 and locked in place by asuitable lock washer 83. The key 70 also engages a notch in the member7%. The member 78 holds the turned-in end portion 919 at the upper endof a wound spring clutch member 92 which is Wound in such a directionthat when the hub 94 is turned in the direction for the agitatingoperation, the spring 92 will be unwound as shown in Figure 3. The hub94 rests upon the outer race of the ball bearing 8-4 which is held inplace by a cup member 96 riveted to the plate 98.

.The outer periphery of the plate 98 is notched and is held against abottom peripheral flange of an upper rotatable housing member 121 whichsurrounds the clutch mechanism and has a plain bearing 123 at its upperwhich bears against the lower portion or". the tubular housing support38 as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Above the'plain bearing 123 there isprovided a shaft seal 125 formed of an inner ring of a rubber-likebearing material around which there is provided a light tension coilspring to hold it in contact with the outer surface of the tubularhousing support 38. A flanged ring rests upon the inner member and isheld in place by an outer ring 127 of rubber-like material which holdsthe flanged metal ring in place within the recess provided for thesurface seal 125 in the top of the upper housing member 121.

The notched edge of the plate 98 is held in place against the bottomflange of the upper housing member 121 by the upper flange of the lowerhousing member 129. T he flange around the bottom of the upper housingmember is shaped to form one side of a V-grooved pulley while the flangearound the top of the lower housing 129 is shaped to provide the secondside of the l -grooved pulley. This V-grooved pulley receives the V-belt131 by which the upper and lower portions 121 and 129 of the lowerhousing are rotated.

The lower housing 129 at one side is provided with a recess 133, whichreceives an inner spherical socket member 135 and an outer sphericalsocket member 137 which are clamped together against the inner flange ofthe recess 133 by a sheet metal cap member 139. This sheet metal capmember 139 is sealed to the lower housing 129 by a suitable gasket 141and is held in place by three cap screws 143. The spherical socketmembers 135 and 137 hold a spherical bearing member 145 which provides apivotal connection between the lower housing member and an extending pin147 which slides within a cylindricalbearing provided in the sphericalbearing member 1'45 The unbalance of these parts is balanced by acounterbalanceweighti146 on the pulley flange of the lower housingmember 129. The'e'xtending pin'147isin the form of a projection from aring shaped member 149 to whichis clamped, by three bolts 151, the outerrace 153 of a ball bearing 155. The inner race 157 of the ball bearingis mounted upon an upper angular support member 159 against the shoulderprovided by the reduced end portion of the inner shaft 62. The innerrace 157 is held in place by a complementary lower angular supportmember 161 set at the same angle to the axis of the shaft 62 as theupper member 159. It is keyed to the shaft 62 by the key 163 and themembers 159, 161 and 157 are locked in place by the nut 165 which isthreaded onto the bottom of the stub end of the inner shaft 62 andlocked by a lock washer as shown in Figure 2. The shaft 62 is centrallylocated in the tubular shaft 42 by a plain bearing 167 located in thevicinity of the nut 36.

The clutch mechanism includes a second wound spring clutch member 171which is wound so as to grip internally. The upper end of this woundspring clutch member 171 is supported upon an outer spring engagingsurface of the clutch member 74 while the lower end of the wound springclutch member 171 is supported upon the outer spring engaging surface ofan element 173 of a friction device. This element 173 is bonded directlyto a friction disc 175 having friction facings 177 and 179 upon itsupper and lower surfaces. Below the friction surface 179 there isprovided a friction disc 1811 which is provided with notches on itsperiphery which are engaged by tongues 183 extending downwardly from theinverted flanged cup-shaped member 185. A plurality of peculiar C-shapedspring members 187 having a projection 189 extending into the innerperiphery of the friction ring disc 181) are provided for applying alimited pressure to the ring disc to hold the friction surface 177against the lower surface of the inverted cup-shaped friction member andto hold the friction ring disc 130 against the surface 179. The upperportion of the inverted cupshaped member 185 is provided with aplurality of inwardly extending tongues 191 engaging notches provided atthe lower end of the tubular housing member 38. This arrangementtherefore provides a friction device in which the elements 185, 187 and180 are locked to the normally stationary housing member 38 so that theydo not turn.

The inverted cup shaped friction element 185 through the frictionsurfaces 177 and 179 is connected to the member 173. The member 173 willbe connected to the element 74 when the element 74 moves in such adirection as to wind the wound spring clutch member 171 tightly upon thespring engaging surfaces of the members 74 and 173. The member 173 isalso connected to the member 74 when the wound spring clutch member 92is unwound by the spring engaging surface of the member 94 so that theouter surface of the wound spring clutch member 92 then engages theinner spring engaging surface of the member 173 as shown in Figure 3.The wound spring clutch members 171 and 92 are both woundso that theirnatural tendency is to engage the inner spring engaging surfaces. Theyare arranged so that when the element 94 is'turned in such a directionas to unwind the spring 92, the Wound spring clutch member 171 will bewound tightly on its clutch engaging surfaces. At the same time, theunwinding of the wound spring clutch 92 will cause it to engage theinner spring engaging surface of the element 173. This will connect thetub shaft 42 and the agitator shaft 62 through'the key 70, the element74, the wound spring clutch members 171 and 92, the member 173, thefriction elements 175, 180 and 185 with the tubular housing member 38.

The tub shaft 42 and the agitator shaft 62 are thereby prevented fromrotating while the housing 121 is being rotated in this direction. Thisrotates in a circle the pivot point for the pivoted member 149 therebyforcing the freeend of this pivoted member 149 downwardly to theposition Shown in Figure'3 and back to the position shown'inFi'gu're'2"eve'ry revolution. This is caused by the fixed angularmounting of the inner race157"'of"the ball bearing 155 upon the agitatorshaft 62. The upward and downward movement of the pivoted member 149reciprocates the agitator shaft 62 and the agitator 54 through a strokeof about inch for agitating the washing liquid in the tub 46.

When the member 94 is turned in the direction to unwind the wound spring92 and to wind the wound spring clutch member 171, the tubular tub shaft42 will be connected through the key 70, the element 74, the Woundspring clutch members 171 and 92, to the friction disc 175 frictionallyconnected with the elements 184 and 185 which are locked to the normallystationary tubular housing member 38. This acts as a friction brakingdevice to hold the tub stationary.

When the member 94 is turned in the opposite direction to wind inwardlythe wound spring clutch member 92 upon the outer spring engagingsurfaces of the members 94 and 78, there is provided a connection withthe member 78 which is keyed by the key 70 to the tubular tub shaft 42as well as to the agitator shaft 62. At the same time, the wound springclutch member 171 is unwound to disengage the members 74 and 173 asshown in Figure 4. This is the position the clutch assumes during thespinning operation.

When the driving motor is stopped for terminating the spinningoperation, the wound spring clutch 92 will be unwound as shown in Figure5 to provide a connection from the tub shaft 42 through the key 70, theclutch member 74 and both the wound spring clutch members 171 and 92 tothe friction elements 173 and 175 which will permit the tub 46 tocontinue its rotation until its inertia is overcome by the friction uponthe friction surfaces 177 and 179.

The rotatable housing composed of the upper and lower housing portions121 and 129 is filled with lubricant in the amount of between about 14and 20 ounces. This amount fills the lower portion 129 when the housingis not rotating. When the housing is rotating, the centrifugal forcethrows the lubricant against the inner surfaces of the outer wall of theupper and lower portions 121 and 129. To supply lubricant to thebearings 40, 123 and the bearing surfaces below them, the invertedcupshaped friction member 185 is provided with an oil scoop 193extending out into the lubricant rotating with the housing so that thelubricant is scooped and splashed inwardly so as to supply lubricant toall of the bearings in the housing. An aperture 195 is provided at thebase of the scoop 193 to allow the lubricant to flow into the portionwhere the wound spring clutch elements 171 and 92 are located. Thebottom of the lower housing portion 129 is provided with a suitabledrain plug 197.

The belt 131 connects to a V-groove drive pulley 220, provided upon thebottom of a reversible electric motor 222 as shown in Figure 1. Thismotor 222 is supported by a bracket 224 mounted upon the lower portionof the tubular housing member 38 which is suspended upon the conicalrubber mounting 34. To hold mechanism in the central position, there areprovided a plurality of tension coil springs 226, the lower ends ofwhich are connected to the bracket 224 and which extend diagonallyoutwardly and have their upper ends connected to spring eyelets 228connected to the bottom 30 of the catch basin assembly. To balance theoff center weight of the motor 222 there is provided an additional coilspring 230 having its lower end connected to the plate 232 fastened tothe bottom of the motor 222 and having its upper end connected to aspring eyelet provided upon the catch basin support 32 as shown inFigure 1. Below the pulley 220, the motor shaft is provided with theimpeller 234 of a centrifugal pump 236 which is supported by bolts fromthe plate 232 as shown in Figure 1. The inlet of this pump 236 isconnected by a rubber hose 238 to an outlet 240 provided in the bottomportion 30 of the catch basin assembly. The outlet of the pump 236 isconnected by a rubber hose 242 to the drain.

The bracket 224 is provided with spring arms 244 having spring pads 246connected at their outer end by a universal-type connection 248. Thesespring pads bear against surfaces on the bottom portion 30 of the catchbasin assembly with a pressure of about 10 to 12 pounds to provide alight resilient damping force to dampen any vibrations of the tub anddriving assembly.

The tub 42 is supplied with hot and cold water under the control of thevalves 25% and 252 connecting with a thermostatically controlled mixingvalve 254, the outlet of which is connected by the pipe 256 with thespout 258 extending over the upper rim of the tub 46 so as to dischargethe proper mixture of water into the tub 46 at the proper time.

The washer is first filled with about eight pounds of clothes,preferably in four evenly spaced groups in the tub. A suitable amount ofdetergent is added to the tub. The automatic washer is preferablycontrolled by a suitable timed electrical control system such as isillustrated in Figure 5 of the Dyer Patent 2,331,897, issued October 19,1943, or by the timed electrical control system provided in theFrigidaire automatic washer model W0- 65. According to either of suchsystems, when the washer is started, the valve 250 is opened to send hotwater through the pipe 256 and the nozzle 258 from which it isdischarged into the tub for a definite timed period. After this timedfill period the motor 222 is energized for a definite timed period tooperate in the direction to drive the belt 131 in the direction requiredto unwind the wound spring clutch 92 and to wind the wound spring clutchmember 171 by which the tub 46 is connected through the shaft 42 and thewound spring clutch members 92 and 171 to the friction disc 175 to holdthe tub stationary. While the tub 46 is thus being held stationary, thehousing 121 and 129 is rotated. in its rotation, the housing 121 and 129is supported by the bearings 84 and 123.

The rotation of this lower housing 121, 129 rotates the pivot point forthe member 147 in a circle. This causes the member 147 and the shaft 62to move downwardly from the position shown in Figure 2 to the positionshown in Figure 3 and back again every revolution of the housing 121,129. This provides one downward and one upward stroke of about inch forthe agitator 54. The agitator 54 moves from the position shown in Figure1 a distance of inch downwardly within about 1% inches of the bottom ofthe tub 46. The motor 222 has a rated speed of about 1750 R. P. M. andthe pulley 220 and the pulley groove on the housing 121, 129 providesufficient reduction to reduce the speed of the housing to about 750 R.P. M. Thus this agitator 54 is agitated through a stroke of /1 inch witha minimum clearance of 1% inches and at the rate 750 strokes per minute,which corresponds to the rate at which the tub is spun, namely, at 750R. P. M. This short stroke, with the high speed, provides fastsatisfactory washing action by agitating the clothes to turn them overand over again in the manner described in the Clark Patent 2,366,236,issued January 2, 1945. In that patent, however, the agitator isreciprocated much more slowly at a speed of about 300 to 350 strokes of1 /2 inches per minute and the minimum clearance at the bottom of thetub is only about /2 inch. 1 find that the shortened stroke makes itpossible to use a much lighter and less costly mechanism even though itis operated at about twice the speed. This speed and stroke have beenfound to provide excellent results but other speeds and strokes may beused if desired.

As soon as the timer terminates the agitating period, the motor 222 isstopped and then reversed. This causes the wound spring clutch 92 toengage on its inner surfaces connecting the housing 121 through the disc98 the members 96, 94 and the wound spring member 92 and its projectionto the member 78 and the key 70, to the vertical shafts 42 and 62 torotate simultaneously the tub 46 and the agitator 54 to spin the tub 46at the same housing speed at which the agitation took place. This speedis about the minimum speed for satisfactory drying in a tub ofconvenient size. In the spinning operation, the centrifugal force forcesthe washing solution in the tub out through the holes 48 adjacent thetop of the tub and into the catch basin assembly 28 and 30, from whichthe washing solution is pumped through the outlet 240 and the tube 238by the ump 236 which discharges the solution through the hose 242 to adrain. This spinning operation is continued until substantially all ofthe water is taken out of the clothes which are in the tub.

After this, the valves 250 and 252 are open for a timed period toprovide rinse water after which the motor 222 is restarted in thedirection to provide agitation for a timed period. The motor 222 is thenstopped and reversed to spin the rinse water out of the clothes.Preferably, several complete rinsing cycles are provided and during thefinal rinse cycle, the spinning operation is continued untilsubstantially all of the water is centrifuged out of the clothes, afterwhich the motor is stopped and the clothes may be removed. By thisarrangement, the mechanism is made simpler, lighter, more durable andless expensive. However, satisfactory automatic washing and dryingoperations will be provided. In this way, a satisfactory low costautomatic washer can be provided.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 7 there is shown a modifiedform of the invention in which the springs 226 and their connections aswell as the spring arms 244 and the friction pads 246 are replaced by aninverted cone shaped member 284 which is similar to the cone shapedmember 34 but is inverted. The two cones, 34 and 284, have their largeends fastened into contact with the upper and lower surfaces on thecentral portion of the catch basin member 30 by the bolts 286. Thisprovides a simplified form of resilient suspension which dampens thegyration of the tub and its driving means to minimize the transmissionof vibrations to the cabinet. The members 34 and 234 are preferably madeprincipally of a suitable synthetic rubber-like material such asneoprene properly compounded and properly reinforced to give suitableresilient damping characteristics.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 8 and 9 there is shown amodified form of agitating mechanism supported on the lower end of thetubular shaft 338 corresponding to the shaft 33 in Figure 2. A tubularshaft 342 connecting with the tub 46 is provided which corresponds tothe tubular shaft 42 in Figure 2 and a hollow agitator shaft 362 isprovided which corresponds to the agitator shaft 62 in Figure 2 andsimilarly connects to the agitator 54. A porous bronze bearing 340 isprovided between the shafts 338 and 342 which is lubricated by a feltsleeve wick 441.

An improved key arrangement is provided in Figures 8 and 9. For thispurpose the lower end of the hollow agitator shaft is made solid andprovided with a keyway 372 having tapered walls as shown in Figure 9.Instead of using'a conventional key there is provided a keying sleeve371 preferably of prelubricated porous bronze having an inwardlyextending key tongue 373 extending into the keyway 372 and an outwardlyextending key tongue 374 extending into a shallow keyway provided in thelower end of the inner surface of the tubular shaft 342. This key sleeve371 is located directly within the ball bearing 384 having its innerrace mounted upon the outer surface of the tube shaft 342 an shown inFigure 8. This keying sleeve 371 serves the dual purpose of providing alower reciprocating bearing as well as a key connection to preventrelative rotation between the shafts 342 and 362. The particularadvantageof this arrangement is that any relative twisting effortbetween the agitator shaft 362 and the tub shaft 342 will not act uponthe key so as to cause binding upon any of the bearings and there isless friction upon the surfaces of =the key projections. Better fits andmore quietoperation are obtained by this construction.

Above the bearing 384 there is provided a clutch member 375. This clutchmember 375 is locked from upward movement by a ring 376 fitting withinan annular groove provided in the outer surface of the shaft 342 andlodged within a recess in the clutch member 375. The bottom of theclutch member 375 rests against a second clutch member 378 surroundingthe tub shaft 342 in engagement with a spacing sleeve 3% which restsupon the inner race of the ball bearing 334. This assembly of themembers 375, 378, 380 and the inner race of the ball bearing 334 islocked in place against the ring 376 by a lock washer and the nut 386which is threaded upon the bottom of the tub shaft 342. The secondclutch member 378 is keyed to the tub shaft 342 by the key 470.

The outer surface of the second clutch member 378 has mounted thereonthe upper portion of a wound spring clutch member 392. The lower end ofthis wound spring clutch member 392 is supported by a hub 394. This hub394 rests upon the outer race of the ball bearing 384 which is held inplace by a cup member 396 riveted to the plate 398. The plate 398 isprovided with a series of apertures 399 adjacent the Wall of the upperhousing member 321 which surrounds the clutch mechanism. This upperhousing member 321 has a plain bearing 323 at its upper end whichrotates upon the lower portion of the tubular housing support 338. Abovethe plain bearing 323 there is provided a shaft seal 325.

The rim of the plate 398 is held in place upon a shoulder in the bottomof the flange of the upper housing member 321 by a projection on theflange of the lower housing member 329. The flange at the bottom of theupper housing member 321 is shaped to form one side of a V-groovedpulley, while the flange around the top of the lower housing member 329is shaped to provide the second side of the V-grooved pulley. ThisV-grooved pulley receives the V-belt 331 corresponding to the V-belt 131in Figure 1.

As in Figure 2, the lower housing member at one side is provided with arecess 333 which receives inner and outer spherical socket members 335and 337 clamped together against the flange at the inner end of therecess 333 by a sheet metal cap member 339. This sheet metal cap member339 is sealed to the lower housing by a suitable gasket 341 and is heldin place by three cap screws 343. The spherical socket members 335 and337 hold a spherical bearing member 345 which provide a universal pivotbearing providing a connection between the lower housing member 329 andan extending pin 347 which slides within a cylindrical bearing providedin the spherical bearing member 345. The unbalance of these parts isbalanced by a counterbalance weight 346 on the pulley flange of thelower housing member 329. The extending pin 347 is in the form of aprojection from a ring shaped member 349 to which is clamped by threebolts 351 the outer race of a ball bearing 355.

The inner race of the ball bearing 355 is mounted upon an upper angularsupport member 359 lodged against the shoulder provided by the reducedend portion of the inner shaft 362. The inner race 357 is held in placeby a complementary lower angular support member 361 set at the sameangle to the axis of the shaft 362 as the upper member 359. It is keyedto the shaft 362 by the key 363, and the members 359, 361 and 357 andare locked in place by the nut 365 which is threaded onto the bottom ofthe stub end of the inner shaft 362 and locked by a lock washer as shownin Figure 8.

The clutch mechanism includes a second wound spring clutch member 370which is wound so as to grip internally. The upper end of this woundspring clutch member 370 is supported upon an outer spring engagingsurface of the clutch member 375, while the lower end of this woundspring clutch member 370 is supported upon the outer spring engagingsurface of an element 473 of a friction device. This element 473 isbonded directly to a fiat disc 475 having friction facings upon itsupper and lower surfaces. Below the disc 475 there is provided afriction disc 480 provided with notches on its periphery which areengaged by tongues 483 extended down from the inverted flanged cupshaped member 485. A plurality of a peculiar C-shaped spring members 487having a projection 489 extending into the inner periphery of thefriction ring 480 are provided for applying limited pressure to the ringdisc 480 to hold the friction facings upon the friction disc 475 incontact with the lower surface of the inverted cup shaped member 485 andthe fiat ring disc 480. The upper portion of the inverted cup shapedmember 485 is provided with a plurality of inwardly extending tongues491 engaging notches provided at the lower end of the tubular housingmember 338. This arrangement therefore provides a friction device inwhich the elements 485, 487 and 480 are locked to the normallystationary housing member 338 so that they do not turn.

The inverted cup shaped friction element 485 through the frictionsurfaces upon the disc 475 is connected to the member 473. The member473 will be connected to the element 375 when the element 375 moves insuch a direction as to wind the wound spring clutch member 370 tightlyupon the spring engaging surfaces of the members 375 and 473. The member473 is also connected to the member 375 when the wound spring clutchmember 392 is unwound by the spring engaging surface of the member 394so that the outer surface of the wound spring clutch member 392 thenengages the inner spring engaging surface of the member 473. The woundspring clutch members 370 and 392 are both wound so that their naturaltendency is to engage the inner spring engaging surface. They arearranged so that when the element 394 is turned in such a direction asto unwind the spring 392, the wound spring clutch member 370 will bewound tightly on its clutch engaging surfaces. At the same time theunwinding of the wound spring clutch 392 will cause it to engage theinner spring engaging surface of the element 473. This will connect theagitator shaft 362 through the key sleeve 371 to the tub shaft 342 andthe tub shaft 342 will connect through the key 470, the element 375 andthe Wound spring clutch members 370 and 392, the member 473 and thefriction elements 475, 480 and 485 with the tubular housing member 338.

The tub shaft 342, the agitator shaft 362 are thereby prevented fromrotating while the housing 321 is being rotated in this direction. Thepivoted member 349 is caused to oscillate as described in connectionwith Fig ure 2. When the member 321 and consequently the member 394 areturned in the opposite direction to wind inwardly the wound springclutch member 392 upon the outer spring engaging surfaces of the members394 and 378, there is provided a connection through the key 370 with thetubular tub shaft 342. At the same time the wound spring clutch member370 is unwound to disengage the members 375 and 473. This is theposition the clutch assumes during the spinning operation.

When the drive motor is stopped for terminating the spinning operation,the wound spring clutch 392 will be unwound to provide a connection fromthe tub shaft 342 through the key 473, the clutch member 375 and bothwound spring clutch members 370 and 392 to the friction elements 473 and475 which will permit the tub to continue its rotation until its inertiais overcome by the friction device.

This rotatable housing composed of the upper and lower housing portions321 and 329 is likewise filled with lubricant in the amount of betweenabout 14 and 20 ounces. There is also provided an oil scoop 393extending out into the lubricant rotating with the housing so that thelubricant is scooped and splashed inwardly so as to provide lubricant toall of the bearings in the housing. The wick 441 supplies lubricant tothe porous bronze bearing 340. An aperture 395 is provided at the baseof the scoop 393, to direct the lubricant into the portion where thewound spring clutch elements 370 and 392 are located. The bottom of thelower housing portion 329 is provided with a suitable drain plug 397. Ingeneral operation, this form shown in Figures 8 and 9 operates in thesame manner as described in connection with the form shown in Figure 2.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosedconstitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted, as may come within the scope of the claims whichfollow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In combination, a first housing, a tubular shaft rotatably mounted insaid first housing, a shaft slidably mounted for reciprocation withinsaid tubular shaft, a friction device having a first element connectedto said first housing, a clutch means acting alternately as a brake andclutch and including a driven member connected to said tubular shaft andhaving a spring engaging surface, a reciprocating means connected tosaid slidable shaft means, a second housing enclosing said frictiondevice and said clutch means and said reciprocating means, a drive meansfor said tubular shaft, said drive means having a spring engagingsurface, a second member connected to said tubular shaft and havingoppositely-facing spring-engaging surfaces on a portion spaced from saidtubular shaft, said friction device having a second element having aportion spaced from said tubular shaft and provided withoppositely-facing spring engaging surfaces, a wound spring adapted tosimultaneously engage two corresponding spring engaging surfaces of saidoppositely-facing surfaces of said second member and said secondelement, said clutch means also including a second wound springextending over and contractible against the spring-engaging surfaces ofsaid driven member and saiddrive means in response to relative rotationbetween said drive means and said driven member in one direction andeXpansible against the other corresponding spring engaging surfaces ofsaid second member and said second element, in response to relativerotation between said drive means and said driven member in the oppositedirection.

2. In combination, two shaft means concentrically arranged, an enclosinghousing completely enclosing the one adjacent end of each of the shaftmeans, the opposite adjacent ends of each of said shaft means protrudingout of said housing, means preventing relative rotation of said twoshaft means, said housing including a relatively stationary portionenclosing said shaft means and a rotatable portion rotatable withrespect to the normally stationary portion, said housing being providedwith a substantially sealed joint between the two portions, both of saidshaft means being rotatably mounted with respect to both of saidportions of said housing, means connecting and disconnecting the firstof said two shaft means alternately to said relatively stationaryportion and to said rotatable portion, reciprocating means locatedentirely within said rotatable portion without any connection throughthe walls thereof connecting said rotatable portion and the second ofsaid two shaft means, and means for rotating said rotatable portion inopposite directions relative to the stationary portion, said housingconstituting a complete lubricant container completely enclosing thereciprocating means.

3. In combination, two shaft means concentrically arranged, an enclosinghousing completely enclosing the one adjacent end of each of the shaftmeans, the opposite adjacent ends of each of said shaft means protrudingout of said housing, means preventing relative rotation of said twoshaft means, said housing including a relatively stationary portionenclosing said shaft means and a rotatable portion rotatable withrespect to the normally stationary portion, said housing being providedwith a substantially sealed joint between the two portions, a doubleacting overrunning clutch means having means effective in one directionof rotation of the rotatable portion for connecting the first of saidtwo shaft means to said relatively stationary portion and having meanseffective in the opposite direction of rotation of the rotatable portionfor connecting said first shaft means to said rotatable portion,reciprocating means connecting said rotatable portion and the second ofsaid two shaft means for reciprocating said second shaft means inresponse to relative rotation between said second shaft means and saidrotatable portion, said housing providing a complete envelope for saidreciprocating means, and reversible driving means for said rotatalehousing portion.

4. In combination, two shaft means concentrically arranged, an enclosinghousing completely enclosing the one adjacent end of each of the shaftmeans, the opposite adjacent ends of each of said shaft means protrudingout of said housing, means preventing relative rotation of said twoshaft means, said housing including a relatively stationary portionenclosing said shaft means and a rotatable portion rotatable withrespect to the normally stationary portion, said housing being providedwith a substantially sealed joint between the two portions, saidnormally stationary portion being provided with a friction device, meansalternately connecting the first of said shaft means through saidfriction device to said normally stationary portion and to saidrotatable portion, reciprocating means connecting said rotatable portionand the second of said two shaft means, and means for rotating saidrotatable portion, said housing constituting a complete lubricantcontainer completely enclosing the reciprocating means.

5. In combination, two shaft means concentrically arranged, an enclosinghousing completely enclosing the one adjacent end of each of the shaftmeans, the opposite adjacent ends of each of said shaft means protrudingout of said housing, means preventing relative rotation of said twoshaft means, said housing including a relatively stationary portionenclosing said shaft means and a rotatable portion rotatable withrespect to the normally stationary portion, said housing being providedwith a substantially sealed joint between the two portions, saidnormally stationary portion being provided with a friction device, adouble acting overrunning clutch means having means effective in onedirection of rotation of the rotatable portion for connecting the firstof said two shaft means through said friction device to said stationaryportion, and having means effective in the opposite direction ofrotation of the rotatable portion for connectingsaid first shaft meansto said rotatable portion, reciprocating means connecting said rotatableportion and the second of said two shaft means for reciprocating saidsecond shaft means in response to relative rotation between said secondshaft means and said rotatable portion, said housing providing acomplete envelope for said reciprocating means, and reversible drivingmeans for said rotatable housing portion.

6. In combination, two shaft means concentrically arranged, meanspreventing relative rotation of said two shaft means, a friction devicehaving a normally stationary element and a movable element, a firstoverrunning clutch effective in one direction of relative rotation forcoupling one of said shaft means and said movable element and effectivein the opposite direction of relative rotation for uncoupling said shaftmeans from said movable element, a rotatable means rotatably mountedrelative to said one shaft means, a second overrunning clutch effectivein said opposite direction of relative rotation for coupling saidrotatable means and said one shaft means and effective in said onedirection of relative rotation for uncoupling said rotatable means fromsaid one shaft means, a reciprocating means conmeeting said rotatablemeans and the other shaft means, and a reversible driving means forreversibly rotating said rotatable means to couple said first clutchmeans in said one direction ofrotation to operate said reciprocatingmeans and reciprocating said other shaft means and to couple said secondclutch means in the opposite direction of rotation to rotate said shaftmeans.

7. In combination, two shaft means concentrically arranged, meanspreventing relative rotation of said two shaft means, a friction devicehaving a normally stationary element and a movable element, a rotatablemeans rotatably mounted relative to said one shaft means, one of saidshaft means and said movable element having means provided with a firstset of coaxial annular spring engaging surfaces, said one shaft meansand said rotatable means having means provided with a second set ofseparate coaxial annular spring engaging surfaces, said first set havingin wrapping engagement therewith a wound spring which is wound in afirst direction, said second set having in wrapping engagement therewitha second wound spring which is wound in the direction opposite thewinding of the first mentioned wound spring, and a reversible drivingmeans for said rotatable means.

8. In combination, two shaft means concentrically arranged, an enclosinghousing completely enclosing the one adjacent end of each of the shaftmeans, the opposite adjacent ends of each of said shaft means protrudingout of said housing, means preventing relative rotation of said twoshaft means, said housing including a relatively stationary portionenclosing said shaft means and a rotatable portion rotatable withrespect to the normally stationary portion, said housing being providedwith a substantially sealed joint between the two portions, the enclosedend portion of one of the shaft means being provided with an angularbearing means, an operating member rotatably mounted upon the angularbearing means, a pivotal connection between said rotatable portion ofsaid housing and said operating member, said rotatable portionconstituting also an enclosed sealed lubricant container for confininglubricant therein for lubricating all the working parts within thehousing, means connecting the second of the shaft means alternately tosaid relatively stationary portion and to said rotatable portion, andmeans for rotating said rotatable portion.

9. In combination, two shaft means concentrically arranged, an enclosinghousing completely enclosing the one adjacent end of each of the shaftmeans, the opposite adjacent ends of each of said shaft means protrudingout of said housing, means preventing relative rotation of said twoshaft means, said housing including a relatively stationary portionenclosing said shaft means and a rotatable portion rotatable withrespect to the normally stationary portion, said housing being providedwith a substantially sealed joint between the two portions, meansconnecting the second of the shaft means alternately to said relativelystationary portion and to said rotatable portion, reciprocating meansconnecting said rotatable portion and the second of said two shaftmeans, said rotatable portion constituting a lubricant container forlubricating the working parts within the housing, means for rotatingsaid rotatable portion, and a lubricant scoop within said housingsupported and held from rotation by said normally stationary portion andextending near wall portions of said rotatable portion for scooping andsplashing lubricant within the housing to lubricate the working partstherein.

10. In combination, two shaft means concentrically arranged, anenclosing housing completely enclosing the one adjacent end of each ofthe shaft means, the opposite adjacent ends of each of said shaft meansprotruding out of said housing, means preventing relative rotation ofsaid two shaft means, said housing including a relatively stationaryportion enclosing said shaft means and a rotatable portion rotatablewith respect to the normally stationary portion, said housing beingprovided with a substantially sealed joint between the two portions,both of said shaft means being rotatably mounted with respect to both ofsaid portions of said housing, means connecting and disconnecting thefirst of said two shaft means alternately to said relatively stationaryportion and to said rotatable portion, reciprocating means locatedentirely within said rotatable portion connected between said rotatableportion and the second of said two shaft means and being operable solelyby the relative rotation between said rotatable portion and said secondshaft means without penetrating the rotatable housing portion, saidrotatable housing portion being provided with a reversible solelyexternal drive means without any penetration to said reciprocatingmeans.

11. In combination, two shaft means concentrically arranged, anenclosing housing completely enclosing the one adjacent end of each ofthe shaft means, the opposite adjacent ends of each of said shaft meansprotruding out of said housing, means preventing relative rotation ofsaid two shaft means, said housing including a relatively stationaryportion enclosing said shaft means and a rotatable portion rotatablewith respect to the normally stationary portion, said housing beingprovided with a substantially sealed joint between the two portions,both of said shaft means being rotatably mounted with respect to both ofsaid portions of said housing, means connecting and disconnecting thefirst of said two shaft means alternately to said relatively stationaryportion and to said rotatable portion, reciprocating means locatedentirely within said rotatable portion connected between said rotatableportion and the second of said two shaft means and being operable solelyby the relative rotation between said rotatable portion and said secondshaft means without penetrating the rotatable housing portion, saidrotatable housing portion having fixed thereon an external pulley, and areversible drive means provided with a pulley and a belt drive with saidexternal pulley.

12. In combination, two shaft means concentrically arranged, anenclosing housing completely enclosing the one adjacent end of each ofthe shaft means, the oppo site adjacent ends of each of said shaft meansprotruding out of said housing, means preventing relative rotation ofsaid two shaft means, said housing including a relatively stationaryportion enclosing said shaft means and a rotatable portion rotatablewith respect to the normally stationary portion and said shaft means,said housing being provided with a substantially sealed joint betweenthe two portions, reciprocating means connecting said rotatable housingportion and the innermost shaft means, means connecting anddisconnecting the outermost shaft means alternately to said relativelystationary portion and to said rotatable portion, and means for rotatingsaid rotatable portion.

13. In combination, two shaft means concentrically arranged, anenclosing housing completely enclosing the one adjacent end of each ofthe shaft means, the opposite adjacent ends of each of said shaft meansprotruding out of said housing, means preventing relative rotation ofsaid two shaft means, said housing including a relatively stationaryportion enclosing said shaft means and a rotatable portion having afirst rotatable bearing mounting upon said relatively stationary portionand a second rotatable bearing mounting upon said outermost shaft means,reciprocating means connecting said rotatable housing portion and theinnermost shaft means, means connecting and disconnecting the outermostshaft means alternately to said relatively stationary portion and tosaid rotatable portion, and means for rotating said rotatable portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,764,302 Hauser June 17, 1930 2,161,941 Zapp June 13, 1939 2,335,415Holmes Nov. 30, 1943 2,346,152 Clark Apr. 11, 1944 2,346,158 Dyer Apr.11, 1944 2,346,668 Dunham Apr. 18, 1944 2,366,236 Clark Jan. 2, 19452,375,635 Dyer May 18, 1945 2,384,903 Ferris Sept. 18, 1945 2,434,199Dyer Jan. 6, 1948 2,534,194 Emmert et al. Dec. 12, 1950 2,549,756 ClarkApr. 24, 1951 2,575,012 Harvey Nov. 13, 1951 2,577,647 Clark Dec. 4,1951 2,605,628 Smith Aug. 5, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 665,888 Germany Oct.5, 1938

